Texas to Colorado Itinerary

[astepatatime]

I'm in the planning stages of a 10 day trip for July 2017 and looking for feedback and advice on campgrounds and activities.

We'll be leaving from San Antonio area. It'll be my wife and I with our older daughter and her husband (they are 30) and our youngest son (15). Originally wanted a full two weeks, but couldn't make the timing work. That means we have to leave some sights out that we wanted to get to (including RMNP).

Our goals: see beautiful scenery, be active - hiking, fishing, etc.

Here's the current plan:

Day 1: Drive to Amarillo (530 miles)

Day 2: Drive to Buena Vista (400 miles). Stay 3 nights. Will do white water rafting for sure, some fishing.
Suggestions on campgrounds and other activities in Buena Vista? Looking at KOA or Valley RV

Day 5: Drive to Ouray (180 miles). Stay 3 nights. Take a jeep tour. Drive back up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Looking at KOA or Ridgeway SP. Other ideas?


Day 8: Drive to Durango (150 miles). Take 145 instead of 550/Million Dollar Highway. Stop at Mesa Verde NP on way.

Day 9 & 10, return drive back.

As I said, we would have like to make it to RMNP and/or Colorado Springs, but don't have enough days. So, in addition to the questions above, a few more

- Instead of doing our current plan (BV, Ouray, etc), we could just go straight up to RMNP and spend days there. If could only do one or the other, which would you do?

We could cut a day from Buena Vista or Ouray and add it to Durango. Worth it?

Thanks in Advance!

[2gypsies1]

I'd highly recommend spending your time in Rocky Mtn. Nat'l Park. Set up camp once and hike the many awesome trails for various abilities.

Your other plan involves too much driving and short stays. You could also take in Santa Fe or Taos on the way to RMNP.

Save your original plan for when you have more time.

[Bipeflier]

SO MANY THINGS TO DO, so little time. Fought that for years while working and raising the girls.

You will enjoy whatever you choose.

[MWJones]

The Steam Powered train ride from Durango to Silverton is AWESOME!!!
You can train up and bus back or train up and back. Will take all day.
It would be an experience of a lifetime for your 15 yr old as well as you and the wife.
Stop at the Black Canyon on the way to Ouray. 145 to Delores is very scenic. Take 184/160 to Mesa Verde NP. 160 to Durango. DO THE TRAIN RIDE. 160 East thru Pagosa Springs, South Fork, Alamosa. 15 miles east on 160 turn North to the Great Sand Dunes NP. Back to 160 east to I 25 and home.
Have a great trip.

PS: Ask directions to Cottonwood Lake out of Buena Vista for great scenery and Trout fishing!!!!! Twin Lakes North of Buena Vista is good fishing at the Dam.

[padredw]

- Instead of doing our current plan (BV, Ouray, etc), we could just go straight up to RMNP and spend days there. If could only do one or the other, which would you do?

If I had to make this choice (as I think you do) I would choose your original plan.

Day 2: Drive to Buena Vista (400 miles). Stay 3 nights. Will do white water rafting for sure, some fishing.
Suggestions on campgrounds and other activities in Buena Vista? Looking at KOA or Valley RV

Our two favorite campgrounds around Buena Vista are the Arrowhead RV Park north of town and the KOA out south at Johnson Village. The KOA was our favorite when I was a few years younger because I could hike right out of the campground to do rock climbing all the way up to Midland Hill and then, if I wished, on into the town of Buena Vista. There is a trail from the top down to town but none from the KOA to the top of the hill. I always enjoyed the "trail blazing" and rock scrambling on that climb right out of the KOA.

Day 5: Drive to Ouray (180 miles). Stay 3 nights. Take a jeep tour. Drive back up to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Looking at KOA or Ridgeway SP. Other ideas?

We stayed at the Ridgeway State Park in September and enjoyed it. We have also stayed at the Ouray RV park in town. The only reason to do that is the convenience of being right in town. We have never stayed at the KOA so have no idea about that.

Day 8: Drive to Durango (150 miles). Take 145 instead of 550/Million Dollar Highway. Stop at Mesa Verde NP on way.

Here is where I might want an overnight at Mesa Verde to have time to make a good visit to the ruins. There is a nice RV park right across the highway from the entrance to the National Park. The alternative, of course, is to spend several hours visiting Mesa Verde and then driving on for the overnight in Durango.

[RPreeb]

Personally, I'd do RMNP, but I'm prejudiced. I spent a lot of weekends up there throughout the late 80's and early 90's before I met my wife to be. I love the park, but I can't fault your plan either. If you go that way, you could still get in a raft trip on the Poudre river north of RNMP. There are a lot a lot of National Forest campgrounds along the river which are easy to get into on weekdays.

[Bipeflier]

Sounds like my kind of trip! We love that part of Colorado.

We have stayed at the KOA north of Ouray several times. Nice place and convenient to town.

Starvin' Arvin's in Montrose will serve you a breakfast second to none. Make sure you opt for the cinnamon roll! Huge.

Snowy Peaks CG on the north edge of Buena Vista is nice if you can get a reservation.

We would opt for a train ride on the Durango/Silverton if you can work it in. The Black Canyon is nice but to us wouldn't need a full day.

Good luck and have a great time.